Bothell Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Meeting - November 10, 2026

The City of Bothell Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met on November 10, 2026. The committee reviewed City Council feedback on Bothell’s tourism strategy: promote Bothell’s experiences, events, restaurants, businesses, and destinations—not only lodging—and assess how lodging-tax revenue is being used. Council expressed interest in a possible competitive event-grant program, potentially including smaller grants of about $5,000 and up, and in considering visitor-oriented infrastructure such as public restrooms, water, electricity, and lighting. These were exploratory ideas; no funding or program decisions were made. The committee approved the agenda and the September 15, 2026 meeting minutes, and later voted to adjourn.

The main procurement discussion concerned the StreetSense marketing contract. A six-month extension estimated at approximately $145,000 had been identified for consideration by Council, but no extension was approved at this meeting. Council feedback raised questions about the current contract and the “Begin at Bothell” brand, and staff said they would assess options, potentially including a future RFP, while maintaining existing assets such as the website and social media during strategy development. Staff emphasized that the committee is advisory and that Council controls policy and appropriations. The meeting also included public-records and open-meetings training and an update on staff transition planning.